Governor tries to break Rutherford train station losing steak

Gov. Phil Murphy returned to the Rutherford train station this morning in a bid to break the Curse of the Murph.

The Rutherford train station has become an Election Day tradition of sorts for Murphy, who campaign there on the Monday before the 2016 and 2017 elections.

In the June primary, Murphy had endorsed Stephanie McGowan for the Democratic mayoral nomination in a contested primary with Councilman Frank Nunziato.

McGowan had been an early Murphy for Governor supporter.  The governor appeared at a McGowan fundraiser in April.

On the Monday before the June primary, Murphy was at the Rutherford train station seeking votes on behalf of McGowan.

McGowan lost the primary, with Nunziato defeating her by a 52%-48% margin.

Democrats in Rutherford have united, and McGowan campaigned with Nunziato this weekend.

Murphy campaigned with Nunziato at the same train station this morning, greeting New Jersey Transit customers with the hope of breaking his Rutherford train station losing streak.

Nunziato faces Marc Marsi, the president of the Hoboken PBA.

Murphy’s stop in Rutherford was the first in a hectic political schedule today.